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| Fatima Naqvi |
Kokrajhar, March 19 : The daughter of the manager of Choibari tea estate in Dhubri district, who was kidnapped on Monday, was released by her abductors about 30km from here this afternoon.
The inspector-general of police (BTAD), A.K. Casshyap, said Fatima Naqvi, 9, daughter of Sayeed Naqvi, was “dropped off” at a village in the Bismuri area along National Highway 31C around 4.30 pm.
“We are investigating the case. It appears that the kidnappers gave in to pressure mounted by the police and the army over the last two days. We had managed to hole them up in a particular area; they could not keep carrying the girl around.”
Casshyap said with the girl returning home unharmed, police would now go all out to apprehend the kidnappers. “As long as she was in their custody, we had to restrain ourselves because the girl’s safety was of primary concern.”
Celebrations marked the news of Fatima’s release at the tea estate. Besides the employees of the garden, friends and neighbours visited the Naqvis.
“Only a mother can feel the pain of losing a child even if briefly... the last two days were a nightmare,” Fatima’s mother said.
The commander-in-chief of the Birsa Commando Force, Birsingh Munda, denied allegations of having abducted the child and said his cadres were instead trying to trace the girl.
Earlier in the day, students and teachers of Don Bosco School, where Fatima studies, took out a procession demanding her release.
Various organisations like the All Bodo Students’ Union (Absu) and the All Bodoland Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU), besides BTC chief Kampha Borgoyary took part in the procession.
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